Flame burning brightly

Candle manufacturing company doing well.

Candle manufacturing company doing well.

June 01, 2006|SHARON DETTMER Tribune Correspondent

There's more to candle-making than wax and wicks. Liz Huge creates hundreds of ways to light up lives with warm glowing fragrant wonders. "I've always enjoyed candles," the National Candle Association member says. In 2000, the Granger resident and mother of three children established a candle manufacturing company. The fire was stoked for Homestead Industries Inc. to succeed, thanks to the collective efforts of her family, Liz says. "It's a small, family-oriented business," Liz explains. "My husband, Tim, children, mother and mother-in-law all contribute their efforts. Tim's contacts made our business a success from the beginning." Tim Huge has designed molten filling equipment for large and small candle companies. So, Liz and family began doing private label contracting for candle distributors. "It's a tough business," Liz says. "The candle business is very proprietary. There are barriers to overcome, because you're asking companies to give you their candle recipes." Obviously, the candlemaker has earned their trust. Candles with vivid colors, intense or subtle fragrances with beautiful illumination are packaged and shipped to companies across the country. Liz, and her sister-in-law, Cheryl Lilly of LaPorte, who Liz defines as an indispensable jack-of-all-trades, focused efforts on developing attractive product packaging adorned in ribbons. Liz soon decided to develop a unique line of products, as well. She developed her own gel candles in rich colors with bubbles -- a guarded trade secret. Natural plant wax candles (these have no petroleum or paraffin) in bold colors with crystallized frozen textures soon followed. Puppy Perfume all natural grooming products and candles were developed in response to the family's desire to relieve their two Labrador retriever's hot spots (itchy skin), Liz says. Now, other pampered pooches are benefiting from the product line, too. Over two years ago, Liz found a quaint location to establish Homestead's Scent Shed Candle Shop. The shop, featuring gift baskets, candles, floral candle accessories, natural body-care products and jewelry, is tucked away in a quiet place near a small lake in LaPorte. The brick building was constructed in 1867 as a paper mill. Candles and products are manufactured in the building, as well. "The shop has been a great test-market for new fragrances," Liz says. She enjoys studying what kinds of fragrances either men or women are attracted to at her shop. "Men seem to prefer scents such as Creamsicle, sweet or spicy, home-baked fragrances," Liz says. All bring warmth and illuminate the home. Liz appreciates the freedom that being self-employed affords her family. "I just wanted more time to spend with my children. There's more flexibility, when you're working on your own," Liz says. Homestead's Scent Shed Candle Shop is at 1405 Lake St. in LaPorte. The shop is open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday tours are held from 1-4 p.m. All times are CST. For further information, call (219) 325-0917, e-mail sales@homesteadindustries.com or visit the Web site at www.homesteadindustries.com